Unit 1 - AP Gov

chp 3 quiz 9/4, Unit 1 progress check 9/6, Vocab 9/9, Unit 1 test 9/13

Politics

Politics

The process of influencing the actions and policies of the government.

Government

The rules and institutions that make up the system of policy making.

Democracy

A system of government where power is held by the people.

Natural Rights

Rights to life, liberty, and property that the government cannot take away, as proposed by John Locke.

Social Contract

The agreement where people allow their governments to rule over them to ensure an orderly society, according to John Locke.

American Political Culture

The set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values shared by Americans.

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that the government's right to rule comes from the people, ensuring political equality among citizens.

Republicanism

A system where the government's authority comes from the people through their elected representatives.

Inalienable Rights

Rights that cannot be taken away by the government.

Liberty

Social, political, and economic freedoms.

Participatory Democracy

A theory stating that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government.

Civil Society

Broad citizen involvement, such as through social justice groups.

Civil Society Groups

Independent associations outside the government's control.

Pluralist Theory

Emphasizes the role of groups in the policymaking process.

Elitist Theory

A theory that suggests elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process.

Political Institutions

The structure of government, including the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches.

Constitutional Republic

A democratic system with elected representatives where the constitution is the supreme law.

Constitutional Government

A government where powers are both described and limited by the constitution.

Totalitarian Government

A system where all power is claimed by the central government.

Authoritarian Government

A system where the central government claims most power but allows some independent social and economic institutions.

Representative Government

A system where citizens select representatives who vote on policy, protecting individual liberties.

Constitution

A document that sets out the fundamental principles of governance and establishes government institutions.

Articles of Confederation

A governing document that created a union of 13 sovereign states, where states were supreme.

Unicameral

A one-house legislature.

Bicameral

A two-house legislature.

Shays’s Rebellion

An armed uprising in Massachusetts in 1786-1787, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Constitutional Convention

A meeting attended by state delegates to address issues with the Articles of Confederation.

Writ of Habeas Corpus

The right of detained individuals to know the charges against them.

Bills of Attainder

Legislative acts declaring someone guilty without a trial, prohibited by states and Congress.

Ex Post Facto Laws

Laws punishing individuals for acts that were not crimes at the time they were committed.

Virginia Plan

A proposal for a three-branch government with a bicameral legislature favoring larger states.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state.

Great Connecticut Compromise

A compromise creating a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives and Senate.

Grand Committee

A committee at the Constitutional Convention that worked out representation compromises.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Counting slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes.

Compromise of Importation

Congress could not restrict the slave trade until 1808.

Separation of Powers

The division of government to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

Checks and Balances

A government design where each branch has powers to prevent others from making policy.

Federalism

The sharing of power between national and state governments.

Legislative Branch

The branch of government that makes legislation.

Expressed Powers

Authority specifically granted to a branch of government in the constitution.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Grants powers necessary to carry out expressed powers.

Implied Powers

Powers beyond what is explicitly stated in the constitution.

Inherent Powers

Powers of the national government in foreign affairs that arise from its existence.

Executive Branch

The branch responsible for carrying out laws from the legislative branch.

Judicial Branch

The branch responsible for hearing and deciding cases through federal courts.

Supremacy Clause

A constitutional provision declaring national laws and treaties as the supreme law.

Amendment

The process by which changes may be made to the constitution.

Federalists

Supporters of a strong national government and the constitution.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the constitution who favored stronger state governments.

Federalist Papers

Essays detailing the theory behind the constitution.

Faction

A group of self-interested individuals using government to achieve their desires.

Federalist No. 51

An essay by Madison which argues separation of powers + federalism. Will prevent tyranny

Federalist No. 10

An essay by James Madison in which he argues that a large republic is the best way to control factions.

Preamble of U.S. Constitution

The introductory statement to the U.S. Constitution, outlining the document's purpose and guiding principles.

Brutus No. 1

An Anti-Federalist essay arguing against the Constitution, fearing the centralization of power.

electoral college

constitutionally req. process of selecting pres. via electors who are chosen in each state pledge to vote for a nominee is pres. election

impeachment

charges issued by house of reps. against federal official for committing:

treason/bribery/misdemeanors or other high crimes 

Article IV

States will respect other states

States must return prisoners/slaves 

States cannot be formed inside another state 

U.S. guarantees republican gov. & protects states from riots if state 

legislatures ask 

Article V

Lays out how many votes are req. to ratify the constitution

(⅔ of congress → ¾ of state legislatures)

(or ⅔ of states hold constitutional convention to propose amendments) 

& No amendment prior to 1808 can affect slave trade/taxes

Article VI

Supremacy Clause 

All gov. Officials bound to constitution 

& no religious test can be used to serve in public office 

Article VII

To ratify constitutional meetings reqs. 9 states approval 

This agreement 12 years after nation’s independence 

Multiple policy access points

The idea that there are multiple ways for groups to participate in and influence the policy-making process

exclusive powers

Powers that only the federal government possesses, as outlined in the U.S. Constitution.

Limited government

A political system where the government's power is restricted by law, usually in a written constitution.